OREGON — Three hundred thirty-eight Ogle and Carroll County fourth and fifth graders descended upon the Ogle County Fairgrounds on Sept. 5 and 6 to harvest information about modern agriculture and its influences on daily living.  Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Days 2024 took youth on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of the science, engineering, and technology that drives today’s farm operations.  

Students engaged in 30-minute workshops led by a variety of agricultural professionals throughout the experience for opportunities to mingle with livestock, explore different ag careers, chat with a traveling vet, discuss basic biotechnology concepts, learn about different crops, navigate waypoints, and discuss how much soil it takes to grow crops.  

This was the 22nd consecutive year for U of I Extension’s award-winning Ag Awareness Days program.  It is intended that participants will think twice the next time they fry an egg, pass a cornfield-turned subdivision, put on their leather boots, wrap up in a wool blanket, drink a glass of milk, or eat a bowl of cereal.  The Midwest has long been heralded as a top agricultural production site.  Logically, tomorrow’s leaders understand how they fit into it.

Many students reported that they most enjoyed hearing firsthand the daily events of a livestock vet, harvesting honey, and using a GPS unit to find hidden coordinates in a scavenger hunt. Students also had fun collecting cool fact cards at each workshop station.   

Special thanks go to the entire Ag Awareness Day teaching team for volunteering their time, talents, and sometimes their critters.  Workshops and presenters included:  “Harvesting Honey,” led by Jeff Ludwig, Byron; “Doctoring the Barnyard,” led by Bob Ebbesmeyer, New Hope Vet Clinic and Taryn Pfeiffer, Polo Animal Hospital; “Ag Careers,” led by John Heisner, FCAE; “Harnessing the Wind,” led by Extension Educator Abigail Nelson and Extension Program Coordinators Kathy Dombeck and Katie Williamson; “Bite into Beef,” led by Annette and Allisa Martin, Ogle County Beef Association; “Engineering Ethanol” led by CHS staff, Rochelle; “Growing Up Grain” led by Justin Ebert and Highland Community College Ag Club; “Horses on the Farm” led by Melinda Merboth; “Water..Pure and Simple” led by Extension Program Coordinator Marian Termini, Extension Educator Martha Ebbesmeyer, and Extension Educator Bruce Black;  “Insect Heroes and Villains” led by Master Gardeners Phil Bratta and Marcia Heuer;  “Going Whole Hog” led by Deb Ohlwine, Polo; and “Layers of Land,” led by Extension Educator Peggy Doty.

Participating classrooms represented Chadwick-Milledgeville School, Creston Community School, Eswood Community Consolidated School, Monroe Center Grade School, Oregon Elementary School, and West Carroll Primary School.